The Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens ($2,496), an astrophotographer’s dream by Dominique Dierick: Intro I have been into astrophotography since 1975 and have probably imaged with hundreds of telescopes and different camera lenses over the years. Camera lens brands included Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Zeiss, Leica, Voigtlander, and Samyang. Telescopes usually have longer focal lengths, limiting the imaged area of the sky. If one wants to image larger structures, or bigger parts of the sky, camera lenses are the solution. However, camera lenses are usually not very well optimized for astrophotography. Most lenses show chromatic aberration, lateral chromatic aberrations, astigmatism, and typical bird-in-flight-like coma on the stars. Even the top lenses do not escape from these problems. In my Canon days, the 200mm f/2.8 and the 135mm f/2 were reasonable ok lenses for astrophotography in the short tele range. Nikon had equally some decent lenses like the 105mm f/2.5 or the 180mm f/2.8ED. All lenses had to be used stopped down to f/4 if you were critical about the form of the stars near the edges and corners of a full-frame camera. A few years ago, a new kid in town – Samyang (also sold under other brand names) released some lenses that were quite ok for astrophotography, notably the 135mm. It was not perfect but worked fine on APS format, and was not too critical on full frame. But you had to get a good sample. I have returned some Samyang lenses that were a victim...
Published By: Nikonrumors - Sunday, 21 January, 2024